Shloka 8

Hari’s Boon to Muchukunda, Security of the Yādus, and Balarāma’s Consolation in Vraja

Viraha-Bhakti

Devanagari script

बलदेवो ऽपि मैत्रेय प्रशान्ताखिलविग्रहः ज्ञातिदर्शनसोत्कण्ठः प्रययौ नन्दगोकुलम्

Transliteration

baladevo 'pi maitreya praśāntākhilavigrahaḥ jñātidarśanasotkaṇṭhaḥ prayayau nandagokulam

Translation

O Maitreya, Balarāma too—his every impulse stilled and his bearing composed—set out for Nanda’s Gokula, yearning to behold his kinsfolk again.

Word by Word

• बलदेवः: Baladeva
• बलदेवः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अर्थ: अपि/also (particle)

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• प्रशान्त-अखिल-विग्रहः: whose all conflicts were pacified
• प्रशान्त-अखिल-विग्रहः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (अखिलविग्रहः = all hostility/quarrel; प्रशान्तः अखिलविग्रहः यस्य)

• ज्ञाति-दर्शन-सोत्कण्ठः: eager to see his kinsmen
• ज्ञाति-दर्शन-सोत्कण्ठः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + स-उत्कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (ज्ञातिदर्शनाय सोत्कण्ठः = eager for seeing relatives)

• प्रययौ: went
• प्रययौ: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: प्र-या (to go forth)

• नन्द-गोकुलम्: to Nanda’s Gokula
• नन्द-गोकुलम्: Karma (Goal/object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + गोकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (नन्दस्य गोकुलम् = Nanda's cowherd-settlement)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Continuation of the Vṛṣṇi/Yādava narrative after Dvārakā’s settlement—Balarāma’s movement toward Gokula.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: affectionate, narrative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Spiritual greatness can coexist with tender attachment to devotees and kin, expressed without inner agitation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate steadiness of mind while honoring relationships with warmth and gratitude.

Vishishtadvaita: The divine (Sankarṣaṇa/Balarāma) participates in human bonds, showing the Lord’s nearness to devotees without loss of transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Sankarshana

Characters & Entities

• Baladeva (Balarama)
• Maitreya
• Nanda
• Gokula

FAQs

What is the significance of Baladeva going to Nanda’s Gokula in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights the avatāra-līlā’s balance of divine serenity and intimate human ties, emphasizing dharma through honoring foster-family and kinship.

How does Sage Parāśara frame emotion and composure in this verse?

He presents Baladeva as inwardly tranquil (praśānta) yet outwardly motivated by loving eagerness to see relatives, showing disciplined affection rather than impulsive passion.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu’s avatāra context here?

Even within worldly movements like travel and reunion, the narrative implies divine sovereignty expressed through orderly, dharmic conduct—an avatāra’s actions teaching right relationship and restraint.